Description
Pizza casserole combines classic Italian-American comfort with hearty, cheesy goodness. Quick weeknight meals welcome this crowd-pleasing dish that satisfies hungry families with simple, delicious ingredients you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 3 cups (270 g) rotini pasta (uncooked)
- 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, divided
- 14 oz (397 g) pizza sauce (or pasta sauce)
- ¼ cup (60 g) pepperoni, divided
- ¾ cup (177 ml) water
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp (5 g) Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook rotini in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Meat Mixture: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking into fine crumbles. Add onions, garlic, and Italian seasoning, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant. Drain excess fat.
- Casserole Assembly: Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a rectangular baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine pizza sauce, water, cooked pasta, seasoned meat, mozzarella, and half the pepperoni, ensuring thorough integration.
- Baking Process: Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, creating an even layer. Top with remaining cheese and pepperoni slices. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese is completely melted and edges turn golden and crispy.
- Serving: Let casserole rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and ingredients to settle. Slice and serve while hot.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Choose rotini for its ridges that hold sauce better, ensuring maximum flavor in every bite.
- Meat Mastery: Brown ground beef thoroughly to develop rich, caramelized flavors and eliminate excess grease for a cleaner taste.
- Cheese Strategy: Use freshly shredded mozzarella for superior melting and more authentic pizza-like texture compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Resting Technique: Let casserole sit for 5 minutes after baking to allow flavors to meld and make cutting and serving easier without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 382
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg